Corner tool and applicator nozzle

ABSTRACT

A COMBINATION CORNER FINISHING TOOL AND FLUID APPLICATOR NOZZLE ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE DISCHARGE NOZZLE OF A DISPENSING TUBE IS DISCLOSED. THE APPLICATOR NOZZLE HAS TWO LEGS WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER AND HAVE CROSS RIBS OR FINS ON THEIR OUTER SURFACES WHICH SERVE TO SCRAPE CLEAN A SURFACE WHICH THE LEGS ARE MOVED ALONG. WHEN ONE LEG OF THE NOZZLE IS HELD AGAINST ONE OF TO PERPENDICULAR SURFACES, THE OTHER LEG OF THE NOZZLE AUTOMATICALLY IS FLUSH AGAINST THE SECOND SURFACE. THUS, THE NOZZLE IS ESPECIALLY SUITED FOR DISPENSING CAULKING MATERIALS. AS THE NOZZLE IS GUIDED ALONG THE SEAM BETWEEN A WALL AND A BATHTUB, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CAULKING MATERIAL IS DISPENSED INTO THE SEAM AND SMOOTHED TO A PREDETERMINED ANGLE TO THE WALL AND BATHTUB.

- Feb. 25 1971 c. E. SWAYZE 3,559,234

, comma 'roon mm APPLIGATOR NOZZLE and Jan, 8, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CLARK E. SWAYZE uh/W4,

ATTORNEY Feb. 2, 1971 c. E. SWAYZE 3,559,234

comma TOOL AND nrucmoa NOZZLE Filed Janga, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet Hg. 6 v (PRIOR ART) v INVENTOR CLARK E. SWAYZE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,559,234 CORNER TOOL AND APPLICATOR NOZZLE Clark E. Swayze, Midland, Mich., assignor to Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Mich. Filed Jan. 8, 1969, Ser. No. 789,814 Int. Cl. E04f 21/28 US. C]. 18-35 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination corner finishing tool and fluid applicator nozzle adapted to be removably mounted on the discharge nozzle of a dispensing tube is disclosed. The applicator nozzle has two legs which are perpendicular to each other and have cross ribs or fins on their outer surfaces which serve to scrape clean a surface which the legs are moved along. When one leg of the nozzle is held against one of two perpendicular surfaces, the other leg of the nozzle automatically is flush against the second surface. Thus, the nozzle is especially suited for dispensing caulking materials. As the nozzle is guided along the seam between a wall and a bathtub, for example, the caulkingmaterial is dispensed into the seam and smoothed to a predetermined angle to the wall and bathtub.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to fluid applicators, and the like, and more particularly to devices of this character adapted for ready attachment to the discharge nozzle of a dispensing tube; the dispensing tube functioning as a handle for the applicator.

Generally, adhesives, sealants and caulking compounds are applied to seams between surfaces perpendicular to each other by means of a simple, conical-shaped nozzle mounted on the discharge end of a dispensing tube. Such nozzles can be a permanent member of the dispensing tube, or they can be removably mounted on its discharge nozzle. Further, some such nozzles have stepped surfaces or sections which can easily be cut off to provide a desirable diameter for the discharge orifice of the nozzle.

These conical-shaped nozzles are used by pushing them and-their respective dispensing tubes along the seam to be worked on. Thus, as the adhesive, sealant or caulking compound is dispensed into the seam, the lower surface of the tip of the nozzle smooths or trowels the dispensed material. In most instances, as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawing, the conical-shaped nozzle tends to furrow a concave path or surface 3 on the applied material leaving extraneous parallel streams or stripes 5 of the applied material on the surfaces along the entire length of the seam.

These extraneous streams or stripes are unsightly and y from a surface without rubbing some of that compound 6 ICC 10 on the surfaces and seam, and angle of inclination between the surfaces. These variances are unsightly and therefore undesirable.

SUMMARY THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved means for applying and spreading a fluent material to a seam between substantially perpendicular surfaces, which means will be free from the aforementioned and other disadvantages of prior devices of this type.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combination applicator nozzle and tool which can be used for applying an aesthetically attractive bead of fluent material to a seam between substantially perpendicular surfaces and which will not leave extraneous beads or stripes on those surfaces.

Another object is to provide a combination applicator and tool which can be removably mounted on the discharge nozzle of a dispensing tube and can be easily aligned with the seam between substantially perpendicular surfaces.

In accordance with these and other objects, there is provided by the present invention a combination corner finishing tool and fluid applicator nozzle adapted to be removably mounted on the discharge nozzle of a dispensing tube, which consists essentially of an integral head, neck and base having a continuous aperture therethrough. The base thereof includes means for automatically aligning the nozzle with a seam between perpendicular surfaces, means for scraping clean a portion of those surfaces, and means for troweling or smoothing material applied to the seam through the nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other objects and advantages will become obvious to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of the tool and nozzle of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view in elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side view in elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1, showing in cross-section threads in the head thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the base of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation showing the device of FIG. 1 attached to a dispensing tube and in alignment with the seam between two perpendicular surfaces shown in cross-section; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of two perpendicular surfaces showing a bead of material and two extraneous stripes of the same material formed on those surfaces by a prior art caulking nozzle.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures thereof, there is shown in FIG. 1, a combination corner tool and applicator nozzle, shown generally as 10, which consists essentially of three parts: a head 13, a neck and a base 17. The entire tool and nozzle 10 can be formed as one integral piece. Accordingly, the tool and nozzle 10 can advantageously be formed by injection molding, or any other convenient method of molding.

The head 13 is preferably cylindrical and provides a means by which the tool and nozzle 10 can be removably mounted on the discharge nozzle of a dispensing tube. Since most such discharge nozzles are externally threaded, the head 13 preferably has a set of internal threads 21 which are complementary to the external threads on such discharge nozzles. However, the head 13 can bear other means for being removably mounted onto a discharge nozzle if desired, e.g., complementary flanges, grooves or diameters.

Additionally, the external surface of the head 13 can be provided with flanges or grooves to provide a grippable surface thereon. FIGS. 1 and 2 show flanges 23 on the head 13. Likewise, such flanges or grooves can also be provided on the neck 15.

The head 13 is joined to the base 17 by a preferably cylindrical neck 15. A continuous aperture 25, best seen in FIG. 3, passes longitudinally through the head, neck and base. Obviously, the aperture 25 is the channel or path along which material will flow when discharged from a dispensing tube on which the tool and nozzle 10 is mounted.

To align the aperture 25 with the seam between two substantially perpendicular surfaces, the base 17 is provided with legs 31 and 33. The exterior or outside surfaces of the legs 31 and 33 are respectively defined by one of two intersecting perpendicular planes converging in the direction from the head 13 to the base 17. The line of intersection of the above-described perpendicular planes also lies in a plane longitudinally bisecting the head 13 and neck 15 of the tool and nozzle 10. Preferably, the angle between either of the perpendicular planes and the plane longitudinally bisecting the head 13 and neck 15 is 45 degrees.

As can best be seen in FIG. 4, the outer surfaces of the legs 31 and 33 preferably bear cross ribs or fins 35. These cross ribs or fins 35 clean any excess or overflowing material from the perpendicular surfaces while the tool and nozzle 10 is moved forwards along those surfaces.

The tool and nozzle 10 is preferably made by injection molding of a non-sticking or low-friction material, such as polyethylene, nylon or Teflon. When the tool and nozzle 10 is so formed, the base 17 can be made thin enough to be flexible. Thus, when two surfaces are not exactly perpendicular, the flexible base 17 will flex to conform to those surfaces and thereby still automatically align the aperture 25 with the seam between those surfaces.

The base 17 is defined or subtended on its bottom side by a substantially flat or planar surface 37 on the rear or back side of the aperture 25. This planar surface 37 forms the tool portion of the tool and nozzle 10 and preferably is flat, although a small amount of curvature therein can be tolerated. Further, the planar surface 37 preferably subtends the base 17 at a degree angle to each of the legs 31 and 33. This allows the tool and nozzle to smooth the dispensed material to the same angle when it is moved forwards along a seam with the front end of its base 17 pointed in either direction.

On the forward or front side of the aperture 25, the bottom of the base 17 is defined or subtended by a grooved surface 39 which rises toward the head 13 and extends from the outer surface of one of the legs 31 and 33 to the outer surface of the other. The grooved surface 39 serves as a means for shaping a head of the material to be dispensed through the aperture 25 into a seam from a dispensing tube.

As is illustrated in FIG. 5, when it is desired to use the tool and nozzle 10 to dispense material into a seam between perpendicular surfaces, it is mounted on the discharge nozzle of a dispensing tube 41. Accordingly, the dispensing tube 41 can be used as a handle for moving the tool and nozzle 10. One leg of the base 17 is then held against one of the perpendicular surfaces forming the seam and the other leg being perpendicular to the first leg is therefore automatically flush against the other surface forming the seam.

When the material is then discharged from the dispensing tube 41 and the tube 41 and nozzle 10 moved along the seam, the material will be laid down as an even corner bead into the seam between the two perpendicular surfaces. This bead is then shaped by the inner surfaces of the legs 31 and 33 and smoothed to a predetermined angle to the surfaces by the tool 37. Obviously, the front of the nozzle 10, or the grooved surface 39, would be the leading portion of the nozzle as it is moved along. Any excess material which does manage to escape from the groove formed by the surface 39 is immediately scraped from the perpendicular surfaces by the cross fins 35 on the legs 31 and 33.

When the tool and nozzle 10 has been made from one of the non-sticking materials as aforementioned, it moves smoothly and easily along the surfaces. Further, the use of these non-sticking materials allows the tool and nozzle 10 to be easily and quickly cleaned of the material applied to the seam, once the job is completed.

Having now described the invention in specific detail and exemplified the manner in which it may be carried into practice, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that innumerable variations, applications, modifications and extensions of the basic principles involved may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

That which is claimed is:

1. An applicator nozzle and corner tool adapted for attachment to the discharge nozzle of a dispensing tube, comprising:

a head removably mountable on said discharge nozzle,

a neck,

a base adjoined to said head by said neck and including two legs, each leg having its outer surface respectively defined by one of two intersecting perpendicular planes converging in the direction from said head to said base and intersecting in a plane longitudinally bisecting said head and neck,

said head, neck and base having a continuous longitudinal aperture therethrough, and

said base being subtended on a first side of said aperture by a substantially planar surface between said perpendicular planes and subtended on the side of said aperture opposite said first side by a grooved surface rising toward said head; starting in one said perpendicular plane and terminating in said other perpendicular plane, which grooved surface defines the inner surfaces of said legs.

2. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein the plane defining the outer surface of each said leg intersects the plane longitudinally bisecting said head and neck at a 45 degree angle.

3. 'Ihe article as defined in claim 1, wherein said head of said nozzle and tool bears a set of threads complementary to a set of threads on said discharge nozzle of said dispensing tube.

4. The article as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: longitudinal flanges on the external surface of said head.

5. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein said head and said neck are cylindrical.

6. The article as defined in claim :1 and further corn- 10. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein said prising: cross fins on the outer surface of each said leg article is made from polyethylene. for scraping clean a surface along which said leg is moved. References Cited ar 3.11:2?) 12.111616 as defined in claim 1, wherein sald legs 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 8. The article as defined in claim -1, wherein said 2,594,606 4/1952 Ames 18-3.5 substantially planar surface subtends said perpendicular 2,804,767 9/1957 Schoen 183.5X planes at a 45 degree angle to each said plane. 3,267,516 8/1966 Eckhaus 183.5

9. The article as defined in claim 1, wherein said 10 article is made from polytetrafluoroethylene, H. A. KILBY; Jr., Primary Examiner 

